Pulsed Power Experiments at the Kurchatov Institute Aimedat ICF

Abstract

Summary form only given. At the Kurchatov Institute, the series of ICF experiments is carried out on the S-300 pulsed power machine (3 MA, 100 ns, 0.15 Ohm). In this talk, the experimental results are presented, related to the study of operation of co-axial magnetically self- insulated transporting line (MITL), by the linear current flow density on the inner electrode surface up to j ap 7 MA/cm. The specific parameters of this current-carrying line fairly correspond to those of the Sandia Laboratories' conceptual project of IFE reactor based on the fast Z-pinch. The detailed study of the MITL reconnection has been carried out, as well as the physics of inter-gap plasmas. With respect to the whole project, we have found the idea of Recyclable Transmission Lines being adequate to the IFE reactor requirements. Investigation of fast Z-pinch implosion dynamics was carried out at the current up to 1.7 MA with the risetime 100 ns. The loads were fabricated on the base of foam as profiled cylinders of (3-5) mm in diameter and with 30 mg/cm3 density, with the neck in its central part of about 1 mm in diameter. The goal of this series of experiments was the investigation of plasma dynamics in the Z-pinch neck and the mechanism of neutron generation accompanying the current-driven implosion. Within the frames of the Baikal program, a new superpower generator should be created aimed at the ICF experiments. It will use the multi-module multi-megaampere plasma opening switch (POS) with microsecond conduction times as the main stage of the output pulse conditioning. To achieve acceptable synchronization of multiple POS modules, operating parallel a common switch placed between the POS modules and their common load is proposed. The POS operates in the external applied magnetic field. This scheme utilizes a fraction of the generator energy during the conduction phase to ensure plasma erosion in all POS modules so that the magnetically insulated vacuum/plasma gap is formed at the switching phase.